NCAA South Regionals 2022 - XC College Career Wrap-up

The time had come. My very last cross-country competition in FAU uniform was coming up.

The last 2 weeks were quite exhausting. The travel 2 weeks ago and a lot of stress at work drained me. Off-season, I am ready.

Wednesday 11/09/22

We drove to Fort Lauderdale in the morning and took the plane to Nashville, Tennessee. When we arrived, we continued 2h south by car to Huntsville, Alabama. There the NCAA South Regionals 2022 took place. Also, there was an one-hour time difference on top. Not much more happened, just eating and then sleeping :)

The start in the middle of an approaching hurricane was a bit bumpy.

Thursday 11/10/2022

Rest day - at 09 am, we drove together to the course and did a casual run with short accelerations, just like always. The weather was really nice; a beautiful fall day.

I spent the rest of the day working, eating, and sleeping.

Friday 11/11/2022

Race day! At 04:30 am, I got up and had breakfast. The starting signal should be at 08:30. The weather was still dry, and relatively humid; but not too cold.

When we arrived at the race site, we got going fairly quickly for the warm-up.

NCAA South Regionals - our biggest competition ever. There were over 30 varsity teams competing - over 200 starters. The 2 winning teams and the 4 fastest individual runners qualify for Nationals.

The starting signal went off for our 6km run - figurative description: like on a horse race track. Just as you would imagine it;

There was enough space, and the straight was over 600m long. I lined up somewhere; I looked at the clock 0.0 - I just ran. I was relaxed, in control, easy and in my head - I felt good. That's kind of crazy to say. At 1.6km, I was still coming through in 78th place; by kilometer 4, I was actually up over 20 spots!

The atmosphere was so cool. There was just so much going on - finally spectators. There was screaming along the course - even if not for me (haha), but it was super fun.

Km 5 I came through; checking my watch after the fact, that was about 17:23 min (that would be an unofficial school record, maybe still a goal achieved this year ;)

Km 6 was tough. I knew sub 4 minutes until the finish, but my body shut down abruptly. (Sure, it always gets hard at the end and hurts, but this feeling right now is just not normal yet. My body is fighting against something).

I still didn't give up, even though I was still giving away places on the home stretch - bitterly.

I finished 58th overall out of 228.

In the team, we reached 25th place.

I am satisfied. Again a step forward, and again I can say it was the best competition of the season. It goes slowly. :)

And seen like this, I am at least in the first quarter in the field.

After the women's race it started to rain. It got really cold. We watched the men's race and cheered everyone on before we went back to the hotel. A hot shower was urgently needed!

At 1 pm, we left for Nashville and stopped at a mall before heading to the airport. Our plane didn't take off until 11 pm. That was a long day. At 03:30 am, I was in bed.

Now it's 2 weeks off-season; a few days I give myself full rest, no training, nothing! Just switch off and recharge my batteries. After that, it's time to prepare for the indoor season. But before that starts, there will be a short vacation at home over Christmas. Well needed, I just say :). I am looking forward to it.

College XC Bye!

Satisfied, happy, disappointed, sad, relieved?! I have no idea yet. I can't place my emotions yet.

I remember when I ran my first year of cross country 4 years ago. That was really new territory. Let someone say that running is running and everything is the same - my ass. You learn from race to race, you grow into it, but it's a lot to learn. Over the years, I realized a lot. And I am more than grateful for everything, for the option.

On the one hand, I'm sad because the time was so short. I don't feel mature yet and want to show more.

On the other hand, I'm disappointed. Disappointed, because I imagined my last season differently. But who can plan? Challenges are there to grow. (love ya Covid).

On one hand, I'm frustrated. My PRs are from the 2019/20 season! But what is there to compare? There are always ups and downs!

On the other hand, I'm proud. Proud of myself for how I've developed as a person.

On the other hand, I am happy. Happy to have gotten this chance. To start with the team and become stronger.

On the other hand, I am satisfied. I am satisfied with what I have done. I've always given my best. I am good the way I am.

And I am relieved. Relieved to close one chapter of the adventure of America and to be one step closer to closing to open new chapters.

Facts

2019:

All-Conference 3rd Team (16th) C-USA Champs XC: 17:50min 5k

NCAA South Regionals (81st); 21:58min

5 races in total

2020: (Covid)

XC 6k - 21:11min